Study Support System

Arc 1.1 - The Beginning

When she came to, she found herself in a strange room, head throbbing with constant low-grade pain. From the lit candle and the darkness shown through the paper window, it had to be night time. On the divan across her bed, a young lady slept restlessly.

She had never been in this room, however, it evoked a sense of familiarity that niggled at her mind.

[This is Host's body's room.] The sudden appearance of the radish-shaped system almost made her jumped out of her skin.

[And that is?]

[Xu MingYue, Xu MeiLan's second eldest sister.]

[She really cared for her little sister, huh?] a sense of sadness suffused her whole being. For this body's owner to have such a good sister but had her life cut off so soon was a big misfortune indeed. [If she knew that her little sister had already crossed the Yellow River, wouldn't she be devastated?]

[Xu MeiLan's wish was for her family to not mourn over her death and to see them one more time before crossing over to reincarnate,] the system explained. [By putting Host in her body, we have fulfilled her request and when Host was unconscious, Xu MeiLan's had said her goodbyes and crossed over peacefully.]

When the facts were laid out like that, it did make her feel better. Heh, even if the system was playing cool, one could not deny that it did care for the host.

[I never did get your name.] MeiLan's had been too out of it before to absorb her apparently not-dead status as well as suddenly-tied-to-a-transmigration-system situation to care about the small details. Now that the pain level was manageable and her location was remotely secure, it was time for a little tête-a- tête with her partner.

[I am System 013. Pleased to make your acquaintances, Host.]

[Me too, Partner,] she replied with a small smile. [I will depend on your guidance in the future.]

[Rest assured, I will do my best to ensure Host enjoys the most comfortable life during the mission period.]

[Can't you call me by my name though?]

Thirteen replied without hesitation. [With each world, your name will change. If it does not make any difference, I'd rather not change Host's designation that often.]

[My original name is always an option.] MeiLan said wryly.

[Until the day Host successfully gathers 1 million points, Host's name will remain sealed.]

[Hm. So it's like that...] She hesitated for a moment, before deciding to ask, [Once I accumulated enough points, you will save my little brother, right?]

[Yes, Host. As per the contract we agreed on. As per your dying wish.]

The dying wish made during the last seconds of her life, when she looked at her brother who lied beside her, wounded, bloodied, with a metal bar going through his stomach.

MeiLan squeezed her eyes shut, lifting her hands to cover them, as if it could block the image that was practically burned into her retina.

[My brother will be saved. He will live a good life,] she affirmed.

[Yes, Host,] Thirteen confirmed again. [We will make sure he survives the car crash.]

[Good.]

Then she went quiet, breath trembling with suppressed emotions.

Thirteen waited patiently for her to regain her emotional balance, knowing that humans could not just disregard strong feelings easily. Grief and love were chief among those.